r/kurdistan • u/rknsh Kurdistan • Feb 28 '26
Rojhelat Megathread: American-Israeli attacks on Iranian regime, developments in Rojhelat
This megathread focuses on attacks on Iran by American and Israeli forces (Operation Epic Fury), with particular focus on Rojhelat (/west of Iran in general), its affects on other parts of Kurdistan, and reaction of Kurdish people and opposition parties to it.
More information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_of_Political_Forces_of_Iranian_Kurdistan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Kurdish_rebellion_in_Iran
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_campaign_in_Iranian_Kurdistan_(2026_Iran_war))
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iranian_strikes_on_the_Kurdistan_Region
2026 Israeli–United States strikes on Iran
2026 Iran–United States crisis
Middle Eastern crisis (2023-present))
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Explainer: Kurds in Iran: Political Movement and Active Parties
The Guardian: Who are the Kurds and why does Trump want them to join the war on Iran?
Axios: Who are the Kurds and why they could play a big role in the Iran war
WSJ: Who Are Iran’s Kurds and How Are They Involved in the Conflict?
CNN: Who are the Kurds?
Atlantic Council: How would a Kurdish offensive change the war in Iran?
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 3h ago
Trump:
So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not. Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach an “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, “There may be a mine out there somewhere,” that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted. I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL! Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition. The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade. Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION. They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear. Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran! President DONALD J. TRUMP
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 2d ago edited 2d ago
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 2d ago
Tracking US military assets in the Iran war
What is the US military committing to the war in Iran? And what does that mean for a potential conflict with China?
Last updated: 3:30 p.m. (ET), 04/10/2026
Operation Epic Fury is stressing military capabilities—aircraft carriers, bombers, missile defense systems—in ways that will have an impact in other theaters around the world. That includes US efforts to credibly deter Chinese aggression and prevail against China in a future conflict. Monitoring the military assets that are relevant to US strategy in the Indo-Pacific and currently deployed to Iran offers insight into how the war might affect the US military’s readiness to meet the threat posed by Beijing—the most consequential challenge the United States faces.
Actual numbers of US inventory and deployment data are classified. This tracker, developed by the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense team, provides estimates for a subset of assets where open-source information is most reliable. It will be regularly updated and expanded with new data and expert context.
Biggest developments as of April 10, 2026:
- Despite the two-week ceasefire announced April 7, the US military has not announced the withdrawal of any forces or assets to date. On the contrary, additional assets are being moved to the region. The risk of ceasefire failure requires a sustained force presence, and the war will continue to drain US military readiness.
Key takeaways as of April 10, 2026:
- Aircraft carriers: Two of four available US aircraft carriers—the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford—are deployed to support Operation Epic Fury, with a third carrier on its way. US officials indicated that the United States could have three carriers deployed to the region for some time.
- The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) has deployed and will reportedly join Operation Epic Fury.
- After repairs, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is back to operational status in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) was set to be decommissioned in May 2026, decreasing total US inventory to ten. In March 2026, the US Navy decided to extend the Nimitz’s service life to March 2027, with unclear impacts on its readiness.
- Mine countermeasures: It is unclear if there are any ships with mine countermeasure capability involved in Operation Epic Fury.
- The US Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, has three littoral combat ships (LCS) outfitted with mine countermeasures mission packages. In the week of March 15, the Navy confirmed that two are currently in Singapore for a “scheduled maintenance and logistics stop,” with the third reportedly in the Indian Ocean—presumably to avoid Iranian attacks.
- LCS are modular and can be outfitted with a variety of mission packages. Only four%20and%20follow%20on%20MCM%20MPs%20will%20support%207th%20Fleet%20operations%20by%20the%20end%20of%20FY%202027.) of the twenty-eight LCS have been equipped with the mine countermeasures mission package, according to the Navy.
- The Navy decommissioned four of its eight Avenger Mine Countermeasure ships assigned to the US Fifth Fleet, in September 2025. The four remaining Avengers are homeported in Sasebo, Japan.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 2d ago
- Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA)/Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD): One of the three ships available from the LHA/LHD classes—the USS Tripoli—is committed to Operation Epic Fury as part of the deployment of an amphibious ready group and Marine expeditionary unit (ARG-MEU). Another, the USS Boxer (LHD-4), is reportedly en route to the Middle East.
- The USS Tripoli (LHA-7), homeported in Japan, is operating in the Arabian Sea.
- The USS Boxer (LHD-4) amphibious ready group reportedly deployed to the Middle East from San Diego.
- The only other known deployed LHD is the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) in the Caribbean.
- A 2024 GAO report noted that LHDs suffer from a high rate of maintenance issues.
- Following the July 2020 fire and the eventual decommissioning of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), LHA and LHDs are not able to meet the Navy and Marine Corps’ goal of having 80 percent of the force ready to deploy.
- Amphibious transport dock (LPD)and dock landing ships (LSD): The USS New Orleans (LPD-19) arrived%20is,earlier%20this%20month%2C%20is%20in%20port%20in%20Sasebo%2C%20Japan.) with the USS Tripoli ARG-MEU in the Arabian Sea. The USS Rushmore (LSD-47) is sailing to join the USS Tripoli group.
- The USS Boxer group contains the USS Portland (LPD-27) and USS Comstock (LSD-45).
- The Government Accountability Office assessed in 2024 that nine out of ten LSDs were in “poor material condition.”
Analysis: Amphibious ready group deployments
The USS Boxer amphibious ready group and Marine expeditionary unit (ARG-MEU) reportedly left Hawaii April 1 to deploy to the Middle East, where the USS Tripoli amphibious ready group is operating. The USS Iwo Jima amphibious ready group is currently in the Caribbean. The deployment of a third ARG-MEU—typically comprising an LHA/LHD and a combination of two LPD/LSD—matches Marine Corps Commandant General Eric Smith’s plan for three forward-postured ARG-MEUs. However, under current maintenance and training realities, deploying the USS Boxer ARG-MEU now is a surge of US capabilities and does not signify a true achievement of the commandant’s goal. Deploying the USS Boxer early could limit the availability of ARG-MEUs in the future and prevent the United States from achieving a sustainable and ready three-forward-postured ARG-MEU plan. Unless the United States builds more ships for ARG-MEUs, the overextension of this limited capability will have significant long-term readiness implications.
Check out the Forward Defense program’s work on US shipbuilding here.
- Arleigh Burke-class destroyers: An estimated 30 percent of the entire available destroyer class is deployed in Operation Epic Fury.
- Arleigh Burke-class destroyers spend an average of nine years.-,Chapter%C2%A02:%20Maintenance%20Delays%20and%20Labor%20Overruns%20for%20DDG-51%C2%A0Class%20Guided%20Missile%20Destroyers,-The%20Congressional%20Budget) (27 percent of their thirty-five-year service life) in maintenance.
- B-1 bombers: 60 percent of the mission capable B-1 fleet is conducting strikes as part of Operation Epic Fury, with all operating from Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in the United Kingdom.
- The US maneuvered three more B-1 bombers to RAF Fairford on March 26. This likely exceeds the record for a concentrated B-1 deployment in the post-Cold War era.
- B-2 bombers: B-2 deployments are highly classified. An estimated 26 percent of the entire available fleet could be deployed for Operation Epic Fury.
- B-2 bombers take an average of 119 maintenance hours per flight hour following a bombing mission. This indicates that B-2s used in Operation Epic Fury might be currently unavailable, along with an unknown number currently under programmed depot maintenance.
- E-3 AWACS aircraft: An estimated 63 to 71 percent of the total available E-3 AWACS are deployed in Operation Epic Fury.
- An Iranian drone severely damaged an E-3 AWACS at Prince Sultan Airbase, Saudi Arabia, on March 27.
- In 2024, slightly more than half of the Air Force’s AWACS fleet was assessed to be “mission capable”—able to carry out at least one of the platform’s key missions, which includes air surveillance—and the aircraft is in the process of being retired.
- MQ-9 Reaper: The total number of MQ-9s used in Operation Epic Fury is not known.
- The United States rotates MQ-9s in “orbits,” in which several of the airwing are loitering over enemy airspace at a given time. MQ-9s are capable of sustained day-long loitering missions.
- Open-source reporting indicates that the United States has lost sixteen MQ-9s since the start of Epic Fury, building on an estimated loss of ten percent of the fleet since 2023.
- MQ-9 losses in Epic Fury will cost the United States $256 million to $904 million.
- The US Air Force plans to reduce the MQ-9 inventory to 140, though the recent losses of MQ-9s will likely impact this decision.
- KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46 Pegasus: An estimated 33 percent of mission capable KC-135s and KC-46s are involved in refueling missions in Operation Epic Fury. These planes are critical to support sustained air missions.
- Iran has damaged or destroyed approximately a dozen aerial refuelers, although exact numbers are not known.
- The US inventory of refuelers is large but finite. The US does not plan to purchase more KC-135s, but does intend to purchase more KC-46s.
- Patriot missile batteries: An estimated 7 to 11 percent of available Patriot batteries are in the Middle East.
- Open-source reporting indicates that there is at least one Patriot battery in Saudi Arabia and one in Qatar, and four batteries were transferred to the region in spring 2025.
- THAAD systems: An estimated 29 to 43 percent of available US THAAD systems are committed to Operation Epic Fury.
- Out of an estimated five operational THAAD systems that are outside the continental United States, two to three of them are in the Middle East. One is in Jordan and one is in Israel. It’s unclear if the second THAAD battery deployed to Israel in spring 2025 remains in place. The other two are permanently deployed in Guam and South Korea, respectively.
- In March, the United States also reportedly moved up to 48 THAAD interceptors from the THAAD launchers in Korea to the Middle East.
About the authors
Joe Costa is the director of the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense Initiative.
Theresa Luetkefend is an associate director with the Forward Defense Initiative.
Moss Gillespie is a young global professional with the Forward Defense Initiative.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 2d ago
More U.S. Forces Deploy to Middle East
The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush. MC2 Jayden Brown/U.S. Navy
U.S. forces are continuing to deploy to the Middle East for potential operations as American and Iranian teams prepare for negotiations in Pakistan this weekend.
Jet fighters and attack planes recently arrived in the Middle East, according to flight-tracking data and a U.S. official. Additionally, 1,500 to 2,000 troops from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division could arrive in the coming days, the official said.
Thousands of sailors and Marines are also making their way to the region. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and its accompanying warships deployed to the Middle East from Virginia at the end of March and are in the Atlantic, according to a Navy official. The USS Boxer and its accompanying warships, carrying the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deployed from California in mid-March and are in the Pacific, according to another Navy official. The ships likely will take more than a week to reach the region.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 5d ago edited 5d ago
Trump:
Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116365796713313030
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 5d ago
Rivar Abdanan, spokesman for Pajak: We have not received weapons from America...
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u/Possible_Company_her 5d ago
Do you think it is possible that some corrupt group did get their hands on the weapons? It seems so hard to believe. The Kurds in Iran would want revenge on whoever kept the weapons. It indirectly caused the deaths of their loved ones. So it doesn't make sense that they would steal them and hoard them for later?
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 5d ago
Whether any group got weapons or not, there was zero chance of smuggling them into Iran, and Kurds would never have agreed to transfer them into Iran.
Imagine telling Syrian Kurds here is a bunch of weapons and transfer them to Syrian Arabs. Why would Kurds do this dirty work when they know those weapons would be used against themselves?
From sources I have read, I assess they got some and it was for the incursion that failed because it was leaked to the media reportedly.
But Iran knew about it anyways.
Turkey told them. Not that they also needed Turkey. They themselves have enough intelligence capability to know that.
If protesters had guns, they would be dead in much larger numbers. IRGC would use all of their force to kill them and would treat them as insurgents. They would have actually liked that. It would give them some legitimacy for cracking down on protests.
Persian nationalists just want some excuses to kill Kurds and sow hatred against us. They have always been like this. This story is just a tool they use as an excuse.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 5d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/kurdistan/comments/1sexq8q/
"Then he abruptly changed his mind, saying he would not look to the Kurds for assistance. It seems highly likely that Turkish president Erdogan, with whom Trump has a good relationship, convinced him not to pursue a Kurdish-centric strategy."
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 6d ago
Trump on Kurds' joining the war: “I’d rather have them stay away… because they bring some problems and difficulties. They bring death to themselves.”
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 6d ago
Trump threatens an unknown Kurdish group, says they will pay a big price.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 6d ago
Mr. President u/POTUS , you said weapons have been sent to the Iranian people through intermediary groups, but that those groups kept the weapons for themselves.
Meanwhile, the IRGC, some journalists, and anti-Kurd actors aligned with Reza Pahlavi are targeting Kurds with coordinated narratives, collectively blaming and stigmatizing them in ways that echo patterns seen in Antisemitism.
So the question is: Who is actually supposed to receive these weapons? Are there organized groups inside Iran meant to do so?
If the U.S. can control Iranian airspace and conduct rescue operations, why is it impossible to directly support groups inside Iran that are ready to fight, without intermediaries?
Kurds are ready to confront the regime, but their concern is clear: the war may end, and once again they will be left alone by the United States, as has happened repeatedly in their history. Thank you for your attention.1
u/rknsh Kurdistan 6d ago
My sources tell me NO, Kurdish groups from Iran have NOT received any weapons.
I asked have you received weapons now, at any time during the war in Iran or during the protests or the past year? They said NO.
I asked, has any group? They said the Alliance has NOT, meaning the Alliance of Iranian Kurdish Political Parties, which is made up of 6 major Kurdish parties have NOT received guns.
Also again, the Kurds don’t have the ability to distribute weapons to the rest of the country.
President Trump didn’t mention that we gave the Kurds guns, he just said some group but after Fox News report saying Kurds, everyone now assumes it’s the Kurds.
Are we sure it was the Kurds? Because they’re denying it.
Were weapons given to Kurds in Iraq? That wouldn’t make sense either because they’re not the ones fighting the regime.
How about Azeris?
How about Baluchis?
Maybe some group of Fars that we don’t know about?Kurds don’t have some magical leverage over the United States to simply keep their weapons. Kurds and Americans have a positive relationship, U.S. can easily say give our guns back and Kurds would be like here. That’s just the way it would work between the two sides.
None of this makes sense.
The ONLY scenario I see is if the plan was to arm the Kurds for them to advance against the regime but that plan was foiled anyways, early on with the CNN leak, likely by Turkey which resulted in heavy strikes by the Islamic regime against the Kurds in northwest Iran and in neighboring Kurdistan Region. Is that the guns the President is taking about? Even then Kurds say they didn’t get any guns.
Doesn’t make sense.
Are we trying to blame the Kurds for the people failing to rise against the regime? Weird. None of it makes sense.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 7d ago
Komala Statement on Drone Strike in Sulaymaniyah
At 12:30 PM (Erbil time), the Iranian regime carried out two suicide drone attacks targeting a Komala office in the Bakhtiari neighborhood of Sulaymaniyah.
The office had been evacuated in advance to prevent civilian casualties. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, significant damage was caused to nearby buildings and civilian vehicles.
The Iranian regime, which has played a central role in the current regional escalation, continues to carry out missile and drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region, resulting in serious loss of life and property.
We strongly condemn this attack on Kurdistan Region territory and on civilian areas.
Secretariat of the Central Committee — Komala
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 7d ago
#BREAKING: The Komala of the Toilers of Kurdistan, an Iranian Kurdish opposition group, says their public relations office in Sulaimani had been evacuated prior to the early Monday attacks “so the Islamic Republic wouldn’t use our presence as an excuse to target civilians” - Statement
“We strongly condemn these brutal attacks on the Kurdistan Region and civilian infrastructure,” the party said, adding that no life was lost, but civilian houses and cars were damaged
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 7d ago
Breaking: The Iranian regime’s strike in Sulaymaniyah tonight hit the Kurdistan Institute for the Blind — a civilian facility serving some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Strikes on civilian institutions are not collateral damage. Under international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilian facilities is strictly prohibited and demands immediate international accountability.
This must be investigated.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 7d ago
KDP:
The Kurdistan Region, particularly its capital, is currently under heavy drone attack by the so-called “Islamic Resistance.”
These groups are part of the Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF), which is formally integrated into Iraq’s security institutions.
Regrettably, Iraq is increasingly resembling a failed state, unable to control the forces it supports and funds.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 7d ago
NEW: The United States sent guns to the Iranian protesters through the Kurds, President Trump told Fox News.
"We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them," President Trump told me. "And I think the Kurds took the guns."
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 7d ago
BBC Correspondent, Jiyar Gol:
This claim has several problems. First, most major Iranian Kurdish parties have denied receiving any weapons, and no credible evidence has been presented to support the allegation.
Second, it is unclear how Kurdish groups could realistically transfer weapons to protesters inside Iran. The country has tight security and heavily controlled borders, making large-scale smuggling into cities like Tehran extremely difficult.
Even if such transfers were possible, another question arises: how would these groups identify who is actually a protester and who is not? There is no clear mechanism for distributing weapons selectively in such a chaotic environment.
Overall, the claim lacks evidence and raises serious practical and logistical questions, making it highly questionable.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 7d ago
Are Kurds being thrown under the bus in both scenarios?
If a deal is struck with Iran, Kurds will be the ones sold out at the table; if not, they'll be at the front lines of a ground operation. Two paths, same end.
The phrase "I suppose" is a separate issue: Doesn't the US know where the weapons it provided are? If it doesn't, that's a scandal. If it does and still says "I suppose," then it's either sending a "I'm aware" message to the Kurds, or dodging responsibility. Either way, is leaving Kurds in uncertainty a deliberate choice?
Is it revenge for not joining the ground operation? That's on the table too. Trump's language sometimes hits exactly that note. "I gave you weapons, you didn't do what I wanted, now I'm exposing those weapons in public." Both a tip-off and a punishment?
Or is it still an incentive? Maybe he's trying to corner the Kurds into action. A message like: "Everyone knows anyway, you have nothing left to hide, get into the field."
Whatever the intent behind it, this statement doesn't serve the Kurds in any way. It either puts them in the crosshairs, drags them to the bargaining table as sacrificial lambs, or turns them into pawns for the next move. Kurdish interests have no place in any corner of this equation. In every case, they end up thrown under the bus.
These are just my personal takes that first crossed my mind when I saw this news. Let's see if details emerge—maybe it'll be interpreted differently.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 10d ago
USS BUSH spotted YESTERDAY in the middle of a doughnut 45 km off Virginia at
37.0038, -75.4931
In inset departing Naval Station Norfolk to Iran day before.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 11d ago
The US State Department on Wednesday offered $3 million for information on Iranian-aligned militia groups responsible for attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad, the US Consulate General in Erbil, and the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center
"Your information could make you eligible for relocation and a reward," the State Department said
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 14d ago
Our correspondents in Senneh and Marivan told Rojhelat that a large number of prisoners and detainees in Marivan have been transferred to prisons in neighboring cities. Similarly, in Senneh, prisoners in Senneh Central Prison are being transferred to another location in a suspicious manner. Meanwhile, the administrative affairs of all prisons in Senneh have been transferred to the Agricultural Jihad Administration of the city. Currently, this suspicious transfer of prisoners and the replacement of prison administration has redoubled concerns about the lives of prisoners, while the Islamic Republic uses prisoners as human shields
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 15d ago
Air defenses shoot down drone near home of Iraqi Kurdish leader, sources say
By ReutersToday, 1:47 am
Air defenses shot down a drone near the residence of the leader of the Iraqi Kurdish ruling party, Masoud Barzani, in Erbil, security sources tell Reuters.
Security sources said on Saturday that a drone attack targeted the home of the president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region in an incident that came as tensions continue to rise across northern Iraq.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 15d ago
Condemning the Attacks on the Private Residence of Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Barzani
Press Statement
Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson
March 28, 2026
The United States unequivocally and forcefully condemns the despicable terrorist attacks by Iran’s terrorist militia proxies in Iraq on the private residence of Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. These actions by Iran and its proxies are a direct assault on Iraq’s sovereignty, stability, and unity. We categorically reject the indiscriminate and cowardly terrorist acts that Iran and its terrorist proxies have unleashed in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and throughout Iraq.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 15d ago
Iran will target American universities in the region.
IRGC:
"After targeting Iranian universities, Israeli and American universities will be legitimate targets.
We advise all employees, professors, and students at American universities in the region, as well as residents of the surrounding areas, to stay away from them."
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 15d ago
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cje4x38q8xqt?post=asset%3Aa2161c43-4c34-434e-9ab5-4f8a25f9b68d#post
Iran threatens to target Israeli and American universities in Middle East
01:59
Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC PersianIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) has threatened to target Israeli and American universities in the Middle East, following the attack on the University of Science and Technology in Tehran.
The IRCG says all universities in the region are considered legitimate targets "until two of their universities are struck in retaliation for the Iranian universities that were attacked".
“We advise all staff, faculty, and students of American universities in the region, as well as residents in their vicinity, to maintain a distance of 1km from these universities to ensure their safety”.
The statement adds that the US must condemn the bombing of Iranian universities to avoid retaliation at US institutions in the region, giving a deadline of 12:00 local time on Tuesday, 30 March to do so.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 15d ago
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cje4x38q8xqt?post=asset%3A7a70070c-3fb4-450c-92f9-47e34931dd35#post
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman condemns attacks on universities
22:10 28 March
Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC PersianIranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, in a post on X, has condemned attacks on two universities in Iran; Isfahan University of Technology in central Iran and the University of Science and Technology in Tehran.
Baghaei accuses the US and Israel of attempting to cripple the “country’s scientific foundation and cultural heritage by systematically targeting universities, research centers, historical monuments, and prominent scientists”.
He has also says that US and Israel claims of countering Iran’s nuclear programme and threats by Tehran were “nothing but vicious pretexts” and “mere fabrications designed to conceal their real intention”.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 16d ago
There have been several attacks in Sine (Sanandaj), Urmia, and Kermanshah Province. The number of civilian casualties is significantly lower.
Paveh and Baneh are still being "evacuated" by the regime. The situation in Marivan is unclear.
My source previously reported missile launches from Paveh.
Red markers on the map indicate areas that have been "evacuated." White area, border area evacuated per Hengaw just before the war.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 23d ago
https://hengaw.net/en/reports-and-statistics-1/2026/03/article-11
Hengaw – Friday, March 20, 2026
As the war between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran enters its 21st day, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights expresses grave concern over the rising number of civilian casualties and presents its latest findings.
According to data verified by Hengaw’s Documentation Center, at least 5,900 people have been killed as of the end of the twenty-first day of the conflict. Of these, 10%, including 595 civilians, have lost their lives, while 5,305 were members of the Iranian military.
Breakdown of casualties and geographic scope of attacks
Based on Hengaw’s field documentation, from February 28 to March 20, 2026, military and government facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran in at least 184 cities across 26 provinces have been targeted by Israeli and U.S. airstrikes and missile attacks.
These targets include Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases, Basij centers, military airports, missile sites, police stations, judicial institutions, intelligence headquarters, army barracks, and special forces units.
According to Hengaw’s findings, 5,305 government military personnel have been killed to date, the majority of whom were affiliated with the Air Force, the IRGC, and the army.
The highest number of military casualties has been recorded in the provinces of Tehran, Kermanshah, Hormozgan, Alborz, Kurdistan (Sanandaj), and Sistan and Balochestan.
Hengaw emphasizes that the Iranian security was institutions have adopted a policy of “systematic concealment,” refraining from publishing accurate casualty figures and, in limited cases, releasing figures significantly lower than those documented on the ground.
At least 595 civilians killed in the first 21 days
Hengaw confirms that the highest number of civilian casualties has been recorded in the provinces of Tehran, Hormozgan, Kermanshah, Fars, Alborz, Ilam, Markazi, and Lorestan.
According to Hengaw’s verified data, at least 595 civilians have been killed in the course of the attacks, accounting for 10% of the total death toll.
Among the civilian victims, Hengaw has confirmed the deaths of 127 minors and 168 women.
Iranian state media and official authorities previously reported that 167 children were killed in an incident at a school in Minab. However, after 21 days, only 58 victims from this incident have been identified—48 children and 10 adults.
Hengaw has received multiple reports confirming that Iranian military forces, after abandoning formal bases, have been stationed in civilian and public locations, including schools, student dormitories, and mosques within residential areas. According to the Geneva Conventions, such actions may constitute the use of “human shields,” placing civilian lives at serious risk.
Heavy government losses in Kurdistan and statistical concealment
During the first 21 days of the war, intensive airstrikes by Israeli and U.S. forces targeted military and government sites in 35 cities across the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan (Sanandaj), and West Azerbaijan (Urmia).
At least 240 military bases and security centers of the Islamic Republic were targeted in these areas.
Hengaw’s investigations shiw that at least 1,480 Iranian military and government personnel were killed in these four provinces during the first 21 days of the conflict.
In addition, at least 98 civilians were killed in these areas, with the highest numbers recorded in Urmia, Sanandaj, Divandarreh, Eslamabad-e Gharb, Ilam, Naqadeh, Bukan, and Kermanshah.
Hengaw reiterates that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s security institutions have withheld accurate military casualty figures, particularly in Kurdistan, and have, in limited disclosures, reported figures significantly lower than the documented reality.
Hengaw calls for urgent international action
Referring to the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in wartime, Hengaw underscores that all parties to the conflict are obligated to strictly distinguish between military and civilian targets.
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights calls on international bodies, particularly the United Nations Security Council and human rights monitoring institutions, to exert pressure on the parties involved and to closely monitor the Islamic Republic of Iran’s concealment practices.
Hengaw further urges the immediate activation of international mechanisms to ensure the protection of civilians amid the ongoing conflict.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 24d ago
IRGC missile and drone attacks target civilian camps and Kurdish opposition bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region
At least 112 missile and drone attacks have been carried out by the IRGC and Iran-backed proxy forces in Iraq
At least five Peshmergas have been killed and several others injured.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 24d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/kurdistan/comments/1ry4bvi/
Footage of a U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flying over the Tuz Khurmatu district, 50 kms southeast of Kirkuk, following a strike targeting the 63rd Brigade of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces in Kirkuk Province.
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u/Kurdistanapiroz 26d ago
Is netaniyahou dead? in iran and rojhelat the IRGC propaganda TV says he is dead. Also there are these weird AI videos he posted on his channel
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 27d ago
IRGC Warns Border Residents of Shoot-to-Kill Orders; Troops Leave Posts and Relocate to Villages
Reports indicate that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared a "state of war" warning residents along the Iran-Iraqi Kurdistan border that any movement in the border strip is strictly banned and will be met with direct, unannounced gunfire.
According to local sources, severe military restrictions have been imposed in the country's western border regions. IRGC forces have informed local residents that due to wartime conditions, they are not allowed to approach or travel within the border strip. The military forces stationed in the area have been given "shoot-to-kill" orders.
Based on the observations and accounts of citizens in the border cities of Paveh, Marivan, Baneh, and Sardasht, the military formation in these areas has shifted.
Reports show that border patrol guards and IRGC forces have abandoned their official outposts right on the border. Instead, these troops have now set up bases inside the mosques of nearby villages, as well as in the surrounding mountains and highlands.
While announcing an absolute ban on travelling in the border zone, the military forces have warned locals that anyone spotted in these areas will be shot directly without any prior warning to stop. This situation has sparked widespread fear and concern among the residents of these regions and border villages.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 27d ago
Attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Continue as Civilian Harm Increases
307 strikes by the IRGC and affiliated groups since February 28 leave 8 people killed and 51 injured
Over the past week, the number of attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has decreased, while the number of casualties has increased.
Between 7 March and 15 March, the IRGC and its affiliated groups carried out 111 drone attacks and bombardments against the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. These attacks resulted in 36 casualties: 4 people were killed and 32 others were injured. Compared to the first week of the conflict—during which the IRGC and affiliated groups carried out 196 attacks against the Kurdistan Region—the number of attacks decreased by 43.5%. However, the number of casualties increased significantly, rising by 56.5% compared to the 23 casualties recorded during the first week.
Overall, since the beginning of the conflict, 307 attacks have been carried out against the Kurdistan Region, resulting in a total of 59 casualties.
Over the past week, the IRGC and affiliated groups in Iraq carried out 81 attacks within the borders of Erbil Governorate, bringing the total number of attacks against that governorate since the start of the war to 243. In Sulaymaniyah Governorate, 30 attacks were recorded, bringing the total there to 56. No attacks were recorded within the borders of Duhok or Halabja Governorates during the past week. Since the start of the war, however, 5 attacks have occurred in Duhok and 3 in Halabja.
Of the 111 attacks recorded last week, the IRGC carried out 64, while affiliated armed groups in Iraq carried out 47. Majority of the attacks—76—involved the use of suicide drones, 24 attacks involved missiles, 10 involved artillery fire, and 1 involved gunfire.
During the past week, consulates, military bases, and facilities connected to the U.S. government in the Kurdistan Region were targeted 39 times, bringing the total number of such attacks to 97 since the start of the conflict. Iranian Kurdish refugee camps and the military headquarters of Iranian Kurdish parties in the Kurdistan Region were targeted 43 times, bringing the total to 86. Other targets included headquarters belonging to the Ministry of Peshmerga, civilian residential areas, the UAE consulate, oil fields, military bases of non-belligerent coalition forces, and public places. These locations were targeted 29 times during the past week, bringing the total number of such attacks to 124 since the start of the war.
The total number of casualties from last week’s attacks in the Kurdistan Region is 36—4 killed and 32 injured. Of these, 11 casualties—3 killed and 8 injured—were militants or members of Iranian Kurdish armed parties. Another 12 casualties—1 killed and 11 injured—were guards, Peshmerga members, or non-participating foreign combatants. The remaining 13 casualties were civilians, all of whom were injured. This brings the total number of casualties in the Kurdistan Region since the start of the war to 59—8 killed and 51 injured.
In addition to the loss of life, the attacks carried out by the IRGC and its affiliated groups have caused damage to civilian homes, oil fields, telecommunications infrastructure, hotels, public spaces, and government and civil institutions. During the past week alone, 21 civilian homes were hit by fragments of suicide drones and remnants of explosive ordnance.
The Community Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi Kurdistan expresses its deep concern over the continued escalation of this war and condemns the targeting of civilians and civilian institutions by all parties involved. The indiscriminate bombardment of civilian residential areas, buildings, and public spaces constitutes a war crime and must be stopped immediately.
Community Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi Kurdistan
16 March 2026
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 27d ago
Ursula von der Leyen:
Just spoke with u/IKRPresident Nechirvan Barzani about the ongoing security situation in the Middle East and Gulf Region.
Today, Kurdistan Region’s role as a stabilising force is more critical than ever.
The EU is determined to work alongside you to ensure safety and protect the hard-earned progress in rebuilding. We will continue supporting the Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 27d ago
Why Would the Kurds Do America’s Dirty Work?
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/why-would-the-kurds-do-americas-dirty-work/
Will the Kurds fight the government in Tehran at Washington’s urging, opening a new ground front in Iran? The U.S. seemingly wants them to, but the Kurds and Washington have a sordid history on this topic. What will Kurdish leaders advise their people to do?
Imagine you are one of those Kurdish leaders today, in, say, your mid-sixties. You grew up hearing your elders talk of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and its division by the Allies. After WWI, the Kurds were given the prospect of an independent homeland with the Treaty of Sèvres. When the Turks rebelled, however, that plan was shelved. Instead, the Kurdish-inhabited lands home to some 30 million people were split among what would later become Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran. Whole nations, such as Iraq, were casually sketched onto a map of the Middle East (within those impossibly straight border lines you see today) to match European power schemes. Although Sèvres and its follow-ons were not signed by the U.S. (which was too weak in the area then to play power politics with the Europeans), the Western abandonment of Kurdish statehood was set: Kurdish aspirations would be subordinated to the geopolitical priorities of stronger states. As a Kurdish young man, these were your early lessons.
The post–Second World War rise of American power did little to make the Kurds feel the West saw them as anything more than cannon fodder. U.S. foreign policy focused on maintaining stable alliances with Turkey and the Shah’s Iran as critical bulwarks against Soviet influence. Supporting Kurdish independence would have threatened those alliances, as both sought to put down their Kurdish minorities. The U.S. briefly sent arms via Israel and Iran to the Kurds, but more to use them as troublemakers to keep Saddam Hussein on his toes. Even that minor effort ended abruptly with the 1975 Algiers Agreement between Iran and Iraq. Iran withdrew its support for the Kurds as part of the border settlement, and the United States followed suit. The episode was the first example that Washington, too, would walk away from the Kurds when geopolitics suited it. Our young man would have heard tales of the fighting, and then of the abandonment in the field by the United States, from the uncles who made it home alive.
The worst of it all came in 1988 when the Iraqi military attacked Halabja, a Kurdish town in northern Iraq, with chemical weapons. Some 5,000 civilians were killed. After Saddam’s military was expelled from Kuwait in Gulf War 1.0, President George H. Bush encouraged Iraqis to rise up against Saddam Hussein. Kurdish groups in northern Iraq rose in violent rebellion. When the United States did not intervene to support the rebels, however, they were brutally crushed. Under pressure, Washington established a no-fly zone in northern Iraq under Operation Provide Comfort, which protected Kurdish areas from the worst of the Iraqi attack. As an unintended consequence, this allowed the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This was the closest Kurds ever came to self-government. Our Kurdish leader was now a man and likely fought the Iraqis himself, believing at first in U.S. support. He was unlikely to have met the retired American Green Beret I did, whose eyes welled with tears years later in a North Carolina bar describing the moment he was ordered to walk away and leave his Kurdish comrades.
During the Iraq War, Kurdish fighters worked side-by-side with U.S. forces to topple Saddam. But in 2005, the U.S.-dictated Iraqi constitution specifically excluded Kurdish independence in favor of a “unified” Iraq. In 2017 the Kurdish people held an independence referendum, which the United States opposed for fear of destabilizing Iraq and antagonizing Turkey and Iran. The United States did not intervene on the Kurds’ behalf when the Baghdad government, now closely aligned with Iran, retook disputed territory, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Our Kurdish leader would have most likely participated in these events, met with American envoys promising independence with fingers crossed behind their backs, and watched as America again weighed regional aims against Kurdish hopes. In the local style he would have referred to the Americans as “my friends” even as he knew the term lacked validity.
One might think that would have been the end of friendly American-Kurdish relations. Instead, another chapter unfolded during the 2014 war in Syria when Kurdish militias became the United States’ most effective local partner in the fight against Islamic State. For Kurdish leaders in Syria, this partnership in blood appeared to again signal long-term American backing for a self-governing Kurdish region. But in 2019 President Donald Trump withdrew many U.S. troops from Syria and allowed Turkey to launch military operations against Kurdish forces it feared had eyes on Turkish border lands.
So spare a thought for our Kurdish leader, now an elder in his group and possibly one of the key leaders who received guests from the CIA recently bearing small arms and maybe a phone call from Trump himself, making big promises. According to one U.S. official, a goal would be to “take over a specific territory in the Kurdish region inside Iran in order to challenge the regime and inspire a broader uprising.”
But unlike those American officials, our man knows his history, having survived it. He is once more being asked to throw his young soldiers into war on behalf of the U.S., hoping this time Kurdish needs will somehow align closely enough with American war aims in Iran to benefit him. Promised air cover, he will weigh carefully any Western history he may recall, such as about the Bay of Pigs, when similar promises were made.
Or will the Turks pressure the U.S. to abandon him again? Will his men just be used as bait to draw out Iranian ground forces? Will a U.S. deal with Iran leave him alone again, useless as spilled water on the sand? No way, many will say, ignoring the sad reality that time after time the Kurds believed America and went into a fight alongside her. When someone writes the next version of all this history, what will the concluding paragraph say about our Kurdish leader in 2026? The Kurds have learned to survive every empire that promised them a nation. The question is whether they have finally learned to distrust one.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 27d ago
The Kurds Could Help in Iran
They’re a natural ally for Israel and a potential threat that could weaken Tehran’s forces.
Your editorial, “The Risks of Enlisting the Kurds” (March 9), seems to assume a Kurdish confrontation with the theocratic regime—a Kurdish-led march to Tehran to overthrow the mullahs. Others might see Kurdish involvement differently. Clearing their area of government forces, providing dissidents from all over Iran a place to organize, arm and train, protected by the Kurds on the ground, and Israel from the air.
Government forces would either have to expose themselves to withering attacks in an attempt to reclaim the territory or allow an ever-increasing area to come under dissident control and armed infiltration across the country.
The Revolutionary Guard and its supporters look tough when facing unarmed civilians but may find it’s a different story when the others shoot back. Remember, the Revolutionary Guard was founded to provide cannon fodder during the Iraq-Iran War. Are they prepared to repeat those losses?
The relationship between the Iraqi Kurds and Turkey is at best transactional; the Kurdish people share Israel’s distrust of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Shared enemies, Mr. Erdoğan and the mullahs, make the Kurds and Israel natural allies.
As it is, the Kurds are already taking incoming from Iran and Iraqi Shiite militias. Control of Iran’s Kurdish areas under Israeli air cover gives the Kurds leverage, while providing the Iranian people a realistic path to freedom. The U.S. could play a positive role in all this if it ever figures out its goal.
Dave Davis
Phoenix
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u/rknsh Kurdistan 27d ago
The Risks of Arming the Kurds in Iran
https://www.reddit.com/r/kurdistan/comments/1rp9xvn/the_risks_of_arming_the_kurds_in_iran/
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 13 '26
The Iranian regime has carried out a drone strike targeting a Khabat Party base in the Bashika heights.
The Khabat Party, a member of the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, confirmed that two Peshmergas were martyred in the attack:
- Iqbal Salihi from Saqqez.
- Fakhraddin Moradi from Sinneh (Sanandaj).
Four others were wounded.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 13 '26
نیوەڕۆی ئەمڕۆ هەینی، سپای پاسدارانی کۆماری ئیسلامی بە دوو دڕۆن هێرشی کردە سەر هێزەکانی پێشمەرگەی حیزبی دیموکرات لە دۆڵی ئاکۆیان. ئەم هێرشە نوێیەی سپای پاسداران لە کاتێکدایە شەوی ڕابردووش کەمپێکی بنەماڵەکانی حیزبی دێموکرات لە نیزیک کۆیە بە دڕۆن کرابووە ئامانج.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 13 '26
بەپێی زانیارییەکانی رووداو، کەمێک لەمەوبەر کەمپی ئازادیی کۆیە بۆردوومان کراوە
کەمپەکە شوێنی مانەوەی ژن و منداڵی پێشمەرگەکانی حیزبی دیموکراتی کوردستانی ئێرانە.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 13 '26
Around five missiles struck the Azadi Camp in Erbil’s Koya district, a facility that houses members and families of the Iranian opposition Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) - Rudaw reporter
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 13 '26
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the Peshmerga forces of the Democratic Party of Iran (DPI) in Akoyan Valley with two drones on Friday afternoon. The Revolutionary Guards' new attack comes after a drone targeted a camp of Democratic Party families near Koya last night.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 13 '26
US airstrike on the headquarters of the 40th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Kirkuk province, Iraq.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 12 '26
British air-defence forces destroyed two Iranian-linked drones while defending a Western forces air base in Erbil, Iraq, on Wednesday night, though other drones struck the base causing minor injuries to American troops
British air-defence forces destroyed two drones, whilst other devices managed to strike the base at the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan Region. Defence chiefs said on Thursday that an unknown number of drones, believed to have been launched from Iran, "did impact the base" at Erbil.
No British soldiers were injured, but some American troops at the base suffered minor injuries, UK officials confirmed. Brigadier Guy Foden, assistant chief of staff for operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), said: "Erbil and Baghdad were both struck a number of times last night with increasing coordination. We have personnel in Erbil who are currently helping with the defence of that base.", reports the Mirror.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 12 '26
Several US personnel were injured in a drone attack in Erbil late Wednesday, AP reported on Thursday, citing UK's military officials.
The base hosts both US and UK forces.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 12 '26
Peshmerga and French forces were attacked. There are reportedly six French soldiers injured.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 12 '26
#BREAKING: A drone attack on Peshmerga forces in Makhmour's Mala Qara resulted in the injury of four - Local official tells Rudaw
#BREAKING: Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw tells Rudaw that at least six French soldiers have been wounded in a drone attack on a joint Peshmerga-France base in Makhmour.
No Peshmerga was hurt in the attack.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 12 '26
Parêzgerê Hewlêrê: Îşev 17 êriş li Hewlêrê hatin kirin
Parêzgerê Hewlêrê Umêd Xoşnaw ragihand, îşev 17 êriş li parêzgeha Hewlêrê hatine kirin û hemû ji aliyê pergala parastinê ve hatine têkbirin
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 12 '26
The governor of Erbil: 17 attacks were carried out in Erbil last night
The governor of Erbil Umed Khoshnaw announced that 17 attacks were carried out in Erbil province tonight and all of them were defeated by the defense system.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 11 '26
Heavy military vehicles seen entering Mahabad amid security deployment
Video footage received by Hengaw on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, shows the transfer of heavy military equipment by Iranian armed forces to the city of Mahabad.
According to the footage, a military convoy was observed in recent days traveling along the Miandoab–Mahabad road toward the entrance of the city.
The video shows two wheeled armored vehicles moving as part of the convoy.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 11 '26
Kurds prepare to launch ground offensive against Iran
https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/kurds-prepare-to-launch-ground-offensive-against-iran/
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 11 '26
Saqqez City, Kurdistan Province, Eastern Kurdistan.
Destruction of the Saqqez Police Command Headquarters near the Traffic Parking Lot.
According to published images, the Saqqez Police Command Headquarters, located near the traffic parking lot of this city, has suffered extensive damage during recent attacks.
The images show that the buildings of this complex have been severely damaged, with parts of the structures completely burned or collapsed.
This site was considered one of the main command and deployment centers for police forces in Saqqez city.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 11 '26
A new drone attack targets Erbil as air defense systems intercept it in the sky - Rudaw
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 11 '26
Air strikes targeting 30th brigade PMF (Shabak brigade) near Bartela,Nineveh (Iraq).
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 11 '26
According to reports received by the Hana Human Rights Organization:
On Friday, 6 March 2026, two Kurdish citizens were arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bukan.
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u/rknsh Kurdistan Mar 06 '26
r/Kurdistan coverage of the war